Posted on: Tuesday, March 8, 2005
SOFTBALL ALL-STARS • O'AHU LEAGUES
Selected by coaches of respective leagues
OIA EAST
Kessell got it done on mound, at plate
| • | ILH: Punahou's Weisskopf sparked 14-0 run |
| • | OIA WEST: Gusman-Brown led breakthrough |
| • | OIA DIVISION II: Noga keyed Waipahu's title run |
| • | Notebook: Moanalua, Kamehameha cheer champs |
| • | Game breakers |
By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer
The competition was supposed to be tougher in the O'ahu Interscholastic Association's Eastern Division this season, with Farrington, Kalaheo, Kalani and McKinley moving down to the White Conference.
Advertiser Library photo Kessell went unbeaten in the East with one no-hitter, three one-hitters, a two-hitter, two three-hitters and two four-hitters to her credit.
She also had one game with 15 strikeouts, another with 14 Ks and three with nine strikeouts.
And unlike other years, Kessell carried a huge burden on offense by batting cleanup.
All those exploits made her the coaches' choice as OIA East Player of the Year for the third straight time.
Kailua leads the way on the East's All-Star first team with five players: Kessell, third baseman Shyenne Hussey, shortstop Rusty Ann Borges, outfielder Kalina Kama and catcher Erin Guerrero.
The Surfriders won the East for the third straight season despite losing one of their top players, senior Tanisha Milca, to a broken leg in the preseason.
Kaimuki, represented by utility player Brandi Sasaki and designated player Pauline Taumalolo, is the only other team to have more than one first-team selection.
Other first-teamers are Moanalua first baseman Brittiny Ronolo, Roosevelt second baseman Kristen Tanabe, Kaiser outfielder Nanea Chan, Castle outfielder Kalei Lebanon and Kahuku pitcher Kamaile Hughes.
Kessell, Borges, Sasaki and Guerrero are repeat first-team selections.
Kahuku's Bu Heffernan was named Coach of the Year, one season after winning the same honor in the OIA White Conference. The Red Raiders came within one game of the Division I state tournament.
But Kailua senior Courtney Kessell dominated just the same, maybe more so.
Kailua's Courtney Kessell was unbeaten in the OIA East with one no-hitter and three one-hitters. The senior also batted cleanup for the Surfriders, who won the East title for the third straight year.
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